Photos from the latest Andes expeditions
Photos from our latest expeditions. See also our 'Firsts' page for details of innovative trips we have run over the last few years, and our Expeditions & Explorations page for details of the unusual and interesting expeditions we are offering this coming year.Brazilian Climber & Scrambler 2008
Cordillera Blanca Climber 2008
Patagonia Ice Cap 2011
Our November 2011 expedition onto the southern Patagonian ice-cap had some pretty turbulent weather to say the least but David Roberts did get his camera out on a few of the better days and took some fabulous pictures. Thanks.
The peak of Fitzroy form the village of El Chalten.
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Approaching the Marconi glacier and Lago Electrico in poor weather.
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Paul - finally on the glacier - just need to get the skis on now!
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Conditions get better as the group heads towards Paso Marconi and the first objective - Gorra Blanca
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and the views get better too.!
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The way every good expedition or grand day out should end!
Ojos del Salado 2011
A trip with a large private group to climb Ojos del Salado, the world's highest active volcano from the Chilean side. Unfortunately although four clients got to 6800m, we really had no reserves of strength left by the time we got there, so turned around and came down.
Our first acclimatisation camp - hot and sunny weather at the campsite at Vallecitos.
Base camp at Laguna Santa Rosa.
At 6600m on Ojos del Salado, looking towards El Muerto.
Cachi & Tres Cruces 2010
A trip to the Argentine Puna in November 2010 when we made successful ascents with various clients of the peaks of Hoygaard (6200m), Nevado de Cachi 6380m and Nacimiento 6436m in Argentina and Tres Cruces Central , 6629m from the Chilean side. The weather was generally good, but very cold.
Our hotel in the village of Cachi, beneath the mountains of the same name.
Heading up to the high camp on Nevado de Cachi.
Vicuņas at the Laguna Santa Rosa in Chile, with a view of the three peaks of Tres Cruces in the background.
Thom just a few metres below the summit of Tres Cruces Central - the south peak is in the background.
Puna de Atacama 2010
Volcan del Viento seen from Aguas Calientes - several clients later made an ascent of this 6028m peak in very different conditions. Hot sunny weather on the approach soon turned to snow and very cold camping conditions...
Although we were not able to climb Ojos del Salado, our main objective, the bad weather had us hunting around for other objectives and we eventually went off to the 6046m high peak lying northeast of Medusa, which turned out to be a (probably) unclimbed 6000m peak.! There is no real record of this peak in climbing literature or the internet and there were no signs on the summit of previous ascents - so it probably has just been overlooked all this time. Pictured below are Thom and Barry on the way there.
Argentine Ski Explorer 2009
Skiing at 4000m in the Quebrada Matienzo, near Aconcagua, Argentina, October 2009. We've just run our first Argentine Ski Mountaineer and it was such a good itinerary we're planning to run it again next year, dates and prices to follow soon. In three weeks of skiing we had 95% blue skies and no rain or storms. Just wine, spring snow and sunshine!
Heading in to the mountains and the Quebrada Matienzo. The big peak is the 4900m high Matienzo.
Skinning up towards the rock pinnacle of El Soldado, above Las Leņas, on a hot afternoon in late September.... and below, climbing in the early morning past Volcan Sosneado, the most southerly 5000m peak in the Andes.
The 3029m high peak of La Hoyada seen from near our cabin at Las Leņas, Malargue, Argentina. We skied this peak the next day.
Chris skiing down from the Mirador del Sosneado.
Big smiles after what was our best (and fastest) descent, just a ten minute walk back to the mountain hut for a brew now.!
And when it finally got too hot and not snowy enough to ski we took to the sand at Fiambala....... good fun and you don't get cold hands.!
Colombia Climber - February 2009
Three clients with a combined age of 195 on the summit of Ritacuba Blanco, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, February 2009. You're never too old to do something adventurous.!
Panorama of the El Ruiz crater, February 2009.
Puna de Atacama 2009
Flamingoes on the Salar de Atacama, Chile.
Sunset on Volcan Licancabur, above San Pedro de Atacama.
Sunrise over Laguna Lejia, with Corona, Lascar and Volcan Aguas Calientes on the far side.
Thom and Barry climbing the glacier at about 6300m on Volcan Lullaillaco.
Pictured below is the high camp at 5935m in the col between Tres Cruces Sur and Tres Cruces Central beside a pool of water - we were nearly brave enough to go for a swim after our summit day!!
Brazilian Climber & Scrambler 2008
The perfect weather on day one, when we climbed the Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro, continued for two weeks...!
Spectacular scenery and more sunny weather at the Pedra do Bau.
Climbing above the beach.!
Cordillera Blanca Climber 2008
Our Cordillera Blanca Climber suffered from some of the worst weather we've seen in the Cordillera Blanca. Mark and Cuy bravely summitted Pisco in a whiteout (no photos.!), then we traversed to our new route objective in some horrendous wet weather.... but the next day we got some great views of sunset on Huascaran from our high camp.
Aconcagua - January 2008
We had a successful expedition with all clients making it to high camp and 4 out of 6 making it to the summit in very cold conditions this year. Unfortunately we had to abandon our attempt on the Polish Glacier at the last minute due to windy conditions.
Sunrise on Aconcagua from Casa del Piedra on the walk in.
The Polish glacier seen from the top of a 5997m high hill just above high camp.
John Biggar's 8th trip to the summit of Aconcagua.
